File naming rules:

Don't use special characters in the file name (including #, %, &, $, and most other symbols)

When you fail to follow these rules, you get file names that look like this:

Web browsers replace spaces in filenames with "%20," making it difficult for humans to read. Running words together is not as difficult for humans to read, but search engines can't distinguish individual words that have no separator.

But both humans and search engines can read this neat and tidy name:

Good filename examples:

student-leader-move-in-day.jpg

LUOA-4th-Grade-Curriculum-Guide.pdf

Bad filename examples:

20120814_3511JR.jpg

LUOA_4th_Grade_Curriculum_Guide_rev__10-2013.pdf

LUOA 4thGradeCurriculumGuide rev10-2013.pdf

A note on dates in filenames

If you have PDFs that you replace each year, here's one more tip to keep your file manager neat and tidy: don't include the date in your PDF filename. Instead, put the date in the document itself - in the header, footer, or even the title. Here's how:

Update your PDF document with the new date in the header, footer, or title

Save the PDF with a descriptive name that doesn't include dates

Upload the new document to the same file manager folder location

The benefits?

The new file will replace the old file automatically

All links to your document will now point to the newly updated file and

You won't have all those outdated versions cluttering up your file manager folders